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2009 MLB American League East Notebook
Last week, we told you that the Tampa Bay Rays were on pace to become the second team in baseball history to collect 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases in a season. The first team was the 1996 Colorado Rockies.
But let’s change the dynamic. The Rays are on pace to have a first. They were six home runs shy of reaching 100 for the year. If they reach that before the All-Star break, they will become the first team in the history of the game to reach 100 stolen bases and 100 home runs before the mid-summer classic.
The Rays, thanks to Carl Crawford’s contributions on the basepaths, have already stolen 110 bases for the year. But to put their stolen bases in perspective, their total is the most since the 1991 Montreal Expos had 116 and the 1982 Oakland A’s had 114.
BALTIMORE
The Orioles’ drive to maintain some respectability has been a result of closer George Sherrill’s brilliant run.
In short, Sherrill has dominated the league. Since May 4, Sherrill has worked 18 innings and put together a 0.50 ERA along with 16 strikeouts and a .392 opposing on-base plus slugging percentage.
The ERA, OBPS are the best among any major league pitcher who has recorded at least 15 innings since that time. Sherrill, who is a candidate to make the American League All-Start team, has converted his last 11 save opportunities.
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NEW YORK
As interleague plays winds down this weekend, shortstop Derek Jeter has been the most efficient player since it began in 1997.
Jeter has the most hits (297), at-bats (883) and runs scored (164). Jeter has posted the fifth-highest batting average at .336. Jeter has been locked in a back-and-forth battle with Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria for the most votes in the American League.
The only thing that would be nice about Jeter is if he would stop acting like any pitch that was a tad inside was way inside. If you’ve ever watched Jeter’s stance, he will crowd the plate and make that motion to pretend a strike was not a strike.
TORONTO
Scott Rolen’s offensive prowess this season hasn’t been generated by power but by consistency.
It would appear the veteran’s power is a thing of the past because he has hit only 24 home runs over the last three seasons. He was between 21-34 home runs from 1997-2004. Of course, injuries have taken a big chunk out of his career. But Rolen is in a position where he can still contribute.
He entered the Cincinnati series batting .332, which is the second best in the American League behind Minnesota’s Joe Mauer. But Rolen, who has only five home runs, has been banging the ball against the wall with 20 doubles.
BOSTON
Veteran right-hander John Smoltz’s long return back from shoulder surgery will come full circle on June 25 when he makes his Red Sox debut against Washington.
Smoltz was 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six rehabilitation starts.
Manager Terry Francona has said Smoltz will be held to no more than 90 pitches regardless of where the game is.
Smoltz is the only pitcher in major league history to record 200 win and 150 saves in his career.
By Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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